Texas Tech Advances Past Alabama, Texas Reaches Third Straight WCWS Final for All-Texas Championship Series
Texas Tech advanced to face Texas in the best-of-three final beginning Wednesday after sweeping Alabama on Monday night. The rematch marks the first title series repeat since the WCWS switched to its current format in 2005.
winnipegfreepress.comTexas Tech defeated top-seeded Alabama twice on Monday night to advance to the Women's College World Series championship series against Texas. The Red Raiders, now 61-8, won the first game 5-4 on a walk-off solo home run by Mia Williams and took the second game 2-0 behind pitcher NiJaree Canady. Alabama finished the season at 56-9.
Canady recorded her fourth career WCWS shutout in the nightcap, allowing two hits and striking out six. Alabama failed to score for only the second time this season. ESPN Research noted that Canady became just the fourth pitcher in WCWS history to record a shutout in four different tournaments.
"I don't have any doubt that was her best performance of the year," Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said. " Jasmyn Burns hit a solo home run in the fourth inning of the second game against Alabama's Jocelyn Briski, the SEC Pitcher of the Year. Texas Tech has reached the championship series in each of its first two WCWS appearances, matching Texas A&M's 1983-84 run.
Earlier on Monday, Texas eliminated Tennessee to reach the finals for the third straight season. The Longhorns, 51-12, joined Oklahoma as the only programs to accomplish that feat. Texas won last year's decisive third game against Texas Tech for the program's first national title.
Texas pitchers Citlaly Gutierrez and Teagan Kavan combined to allow two runs and seven hits across the two wins over Tennessee. The best-of-three championship series begins Wednesday in Oklahoma City. It is the first title rematch since the WCWS adopted its current format in 2005.
"It's just a blessing to play them again," Canady said. "It's good for the state of Texas, showing how good softball is in the state. " "This is a big reason why we all came here," Texas Tech transfer Kaitlyn Terry said.
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